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Himachal resorts under a white blanket

Photo: PTI

A view of snow-covered Shimla on Wednesday.

SHIMLA: This picturesque hill station woke up to yet another snowfall on Wednesday with the town painted snow-white. The weatherman described the latest spell of widespread rain in lower regions of Himachal Pradesh and snowfall in upper areas due to an active western disturbance.

Shimla recorded 15.6 cm of snow since Tuesday night while the adjoining tourist resorts of Kufri and Narkanda have recorded about 30 cm of snow.

Due to fresh snowfall, vehicular movement to Narkanda, Chopal, Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru and other tribal areas of the State beyond Dhalli, 8 km from here, has been diverted via Dhami, said officials.

However, traffic was plying normally on the Shimla-Kalka and Shimla-Mandi highways.

Jakhu Hill, the tallest point in Shimla at 8,000 feet, recorded about 20 cm of snowfall. Lahaul Spiti’s district headquarters, Kelong, and Kinnaur’s headquarters, Rekong Peo, were also experiencing intermittent snowfall. Higher altitude areas in all tribal districts recorded moderate to heavy snowfall during the last 24 hours.

The famous tourist resort of Manali and the 13,050-foot-high Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahaul Spiti district,also experienced intermittent snow since Tuesday night.

A report from Chamba district said that the remote Bharmaur area had so far experienced about 45 cm of snow following which vehicular traffic was suspended on the Chamba-Tissa, Chamba, Khajjiar, Chamba-Bharmaur and Chamba-Banikhet roads.

#In the lower regions, Sundernagar recorded 16.3 mm rain followed by 7.5 mm at Bhuntar, 17 mm at Palampur and 7.4 mm rain at Mandi.

The state continues to be in the grip of a cold wave with Shimla recording a minimum

temperature of zero degree Celcius.

A large number of tourists and newly-weds s were seen playing with the snow in the town and adjoining tourist resorts. The local farmers, including the apple growers, were also happy with the incessant spell of snow and rain all over the State.

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